"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2
I like that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith... author meaning that he wrote it, he began it, and finisher meaning that he finishes it as well... doesn't quit in the middle, and also polishes it up so that it is perfect and shiny. :) Trusting in him can't go wrong, because he remains with us all the way through. I also love the "for the joy" part. Amazing... that Christ chose to suffer because he looked past that temporary pain and agony and embarrassment to be associated with sinners and lawbreakers part... to be put to death in front of an audience of people, some of whom thought that his death disproved his divinity... he chose all of that because he saw past it to the joy beyond and the possibilities in the future. That's an amazing example to us as well. We all have things that we go through in life that aren't easy for us, and that are wrong on so many levels. But Christ encourages us to trust and have faith in him, and his example... to see past the difficulty and pain and embarrassment of this moment and remember that the joy comes after. There is so much hope and so much goodness waiting for us... today, let's lift up our eyes and see it... and "for the joy" endure whatever we have to endure today... looking forward to the happy ending that might not come soon, but which will always come, because Christ is not only the author, but the finisher of that faith we have in him. :)
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